VIII Corps Office of the Engineer & 665th Engr. Topo. Co.

The 655th Engineer Topographic Battalion (655th ENG TOPO BN) was a technical support unit formed to provide surveying, drafting, and map production activities for the US Army during World War II.

With the beginning of the war in Europe, the U.S. realized that the existing European maps were inadequate for tactical purposes or use by artillery units, since existing map grids were inconsistent and did not match up between countries. The Engineer Topographic Battalion’s wartime mission was the development of accurate 4-color topographic maps created through timely survey work, drafting, printing, and distribution of military maps as required by the Allied Armed Forces of the United States. The Battalion was first formed in December, 1943 and deactivated in December, 1946.